The Latest: Lance Stephenson joining LeBron on Lakers

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George is pictured during an NBA basketball media day in Oklahoma City. George has decided not to exercise his $20.7 million option for next season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. George will become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday, June 28, 2018, because neither George nor the team has publicly announced his decision.Sue Ogrocki / AP

Stephenson agreed to a deal with the Lakers on Sunday night, his agency, Priority Sports, announced on Twitter . That came just hours after James decided he would join the Lakers.

The two have traded testy moments in the playoffs when Stephenson’s Indiana teams faced James’ squads in both Miami and Cleveland.

Stephenson averaged 9.2 points last season.

——

10:25 p.m.

Glenn Robinson III has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons.

A person with knowledge of the agreement says Robinson has agreed to a one-year contract with a team option for 2019-20. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract has not yet been signed.

Robinson returns to the area where he played college basketball. He was on the Michigan team that went to the Final Four in 2013.

Robinson averaged 4.1 points and 14.7 minutes a game last season for Indiana.

— Noah Trister in Detroit

——

10:05 p.m.

Aaron Gordon is staying in Orlando for big money.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Gordon agreed Sunday night to a four-year, $82 million deal to remain with the Magic. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract has not yet been signed.

Gordon is going into his fifth season. He averaged a career-best 17.6 points per game last year for Orlando, but was limited to 58 games.

— AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds

——

9:50 p.m.

Mario Hezonja is leaving Orlando to play for David Fizdale and the New York Knicks.

The No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft tweeted a picture of himself in a Knicks sweatshirt, writing that he was “very excited to be joining the Knicks and play for coach Fizdale!”

Hezonja averaged 9.6 points last season, easily the best of his three-year career. ESPN reported the Croatian native had agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million.

The Knicks had said they didn’t plan to be active in free agency, hoping to save their cap space for 2019.

——

8:25 p.m.

LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.

James’ agency made the announcement in a release, saying he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract. The game’s best all-around player and biggest star will now lead a young Lakers team that has been overmatched in recent years while rebuilding but will instantly rise with James.

Los Angeles also provides James with a larger platform for his business interests and social activism.

This is the third time in eight years James has changed teams. He returned to the Cavs in 2014 after four seasons in Miami.

The 33-year-old had previously said he wanted to finish his career in Ohio, and although he’s leaving home again, Cleveland fans are more forgiving after he ended the city’s 52-year sports championship drought in 2016.

——

1:20 p.m.

Derrick Jones Jr. has signed a minimum deal with the Miami Heat, after playing with them on a two-way contract last season.

The 6-foot-7 wing played in 14 games with Miami last season, starting eight. His NBA career remains best known for his appearance as a member of the Phoenix Suns in the 2017 dunk contest at All-Star weekend, an invite that came even though he had spent the bulk of his time that season in the G League.

He could help the Heat in at least two ways — one being depth, the other being affordability. Miami does not have much in the way of financial flexibility this summer, with the luxury tax threshold looming and the Heat trying to keep Wayne Ellington.

Jones is playing in Summer League for the Heat, starting Monday in Sacramento.

——

12:05 p.m.

The Philadelphia 76ers are getting to make their pitch to LeBron James.

Representatives from the team will meet in Los Angeles with James’ agent Rich Paul on Sunday, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. James will not take part in the meeting, the person said.

The Sixers –and their fans– have made no secret of their desire to land James, who would instantly make them NBA title contenders. Philadelphia has young stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to entice James, who was flattered earlier this year when a company erected billboards in Ohio urging him to join the Sixers.

The meeting was first reported by ESPN.

—— Tom Withers in Cleveland.

——

11:10 a.m.

The Toronto Raptors aren’t letting guard Fred VanVleet get away.

A person with knowledge of the contract says the club has reached an agreement with VanVleet on a two-year, $18 million deal. The person spoke with The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be finalized until Friday.

In his second season with Toronto, VanVleet, a restricted free agent, averaged 8.6 points and was a valuable backup to Kyle Lowry. VanVleet bounced between the D-League and Raptors in his 2016-17 rookie season, but the former Wichita State improved his game and has been rewarded.

— AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds

——

9:50 a.m.

Aron Baynes, who started virtually every game last season with Boston, is staying with the Celtics.

A person familiar with the negotiations says Baynes has agreed to a two-year deal worth $11 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

The second year is at Baynes’ option, meaning he could be a free agent again next summer.

Baynes had 19 double-figure scoring games last season for Boston, including playoffs — and the Celtics went 17-2 in those games.

A person familiar with the discussion says LeBron James was in contact with the Cleveland Cavaliers when NBA free agency opened.

Shortly after the 12:01 EDT a.m. start on Sunday, Cavs general manager Koby Altman spoke on the phone to both James and his agent Rich Paul, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion.

James is an unrestricted free agent and the Cavs are hoping to re-sign the three-time champion, who is weighing whether to change teams for the third time in eight years. James was in Los Angeles and is also being pursued by the Lakers, who have enough salary-cap space to sign him and another star player.

There was a flurry of big-name signings in the first hours of free agency, but James remained noncommittal. The 33-year-old is not expected to drag out a decision that could reshape the league’s landscape.

When my assistant said there was a call from the White House, I picked up, said 'Hello' and started to ask if this was a prank

This Week's Flyers

Comments

Postmedia is pleased to bring you a new commenting experience. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Visit our community guidelines for more information.